Delivery and retrieval device for road cones

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a delivery and retrieval device for road cones. In a preferred embodiment the device comprises a track for mounting across the rear of a vehicle, a tower mounted to slide on the track, means such as motor to move the tower on the track, a conveyor to deliver road cones from a roadway to the base of the tower or to deliver road cones from the base to the roadway, a conveyor platform powered to move from a first height position at the base of the tower and adjacent one end of the conveyor to a second height position up the tower, and a handling mechanism to support a stack of road cones above the platform. In use the device collects and deposits cones from/to the roadway, in such a way as top enable a portion of a carriageway to be selectively closed by forming a ‘taper’. The invention thus overcomes problems associated with personnel having to walk behind a vehicle in order to place cones in this arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a delivery and retrieval device forroad cones, more particularly but not exclusively, it relates to avehicle capable of delivering and retrieving road cones to and from aroad surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Road cones are familiar to all motorists. Lines of spaced apart conesare used on all types of roads to separate lanes, indicate road works inprogress and to warn of hazards—such as accidents—on roads. In certaincases, the road cones must be laid in lines in a spaced apartconfiguration, often with the cones a predetermined distance apart.Furthermore, once the cones are no longer required, the cones must beretrieved and removed from the carriageway concerned

Traditionally, these road cones were laid and retrieved by hand; anoperator riding on the back of a vehicle, the vehicle carrying a supplyof road cones. To lay the cones, the operator leant over the edge of thevehicle and placed the cones in a desired position and configuration.The arrangement of cones was generally in the form of a taper, so as togradually close a lane or route traffic from one part of a carriagewayto another. In forming the “taper” the operators were often forced towalk on the road surface, it will be appreciated that this was labourintensive, slow and at times dangerous.

PRIOR ART

Prior UK Patent Application Numbers GB-A-2 396 650 (Flynn) and GB-A-2325 683 (Jordan) describe various devices for laying and collecting roadcones.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,900 (Piercey) describes a road cone retrieval devicefor retrieving cones from road surfaces. The device disclosed comprisesa scoop and a conveyor for collecting/discharging traffic cones andincludes a stacking system for the cones.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved devicecapable of safely and automatically delivering and retrieving road conesand in particular the invention seeks to provide an improved devicecapable of safely and automatically delivering and retrieving road conesin the form of a taper to/from a road surface

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a delivery and retrieval device for road cones comprising:

a) a track for mounting across the rear of a vehicle,b) a tower mounted to slide on the track,c) means to move the tower on the track,d) a conveyor to deliver road cones from a roadway to the base of thetower or to deliver road cones from the base to the roadway,e) a conveyor platform powered to move from a first height position atthe base of the tower and adjacent one end of the conveyor to a secondheight position up the tower;f) a handling mechanism to support a stack of road cones above theplatform second position and to deliver or pick up road cones to or fromthe conveyor platform when at the second position, andg) at least one cone storage rack adjacent the platform second positionto receive a stack of cones from the conveyor platform or deliver astack of road cones to the conveyor platform, in use, the devicecollecting a cone from the roadway being transferred by the conveyoronto the conveyor platform at the first position, the conveyor platformlifting the cone to the second position, whereby, in use, the cone istransferred to the handling mechanism for stacking with other cones.

Ideally the cones are stacked to a predetermined number of cones, andthe stack of cones is transferred by the conveyor platform to a storagerack. In an alternative arrangement the stack of cones is transferredfrom the storage rack to the conveyor platform and subsequentlytransferred to the handling mechanism.

The handling mechanism ideally delivers single cones to the conveyorplatform at the second position. The conveyor platform is adapted totake a cone to the first position and transfer it to the conveyor fordelivery to a roadway.

Preferably the device is capable of handling pairs of stacked cones aswell as single cones.

Preferably two or more storage racks are provided, in side-by-siderelationship across a vehicle, the storage racks being accessed bymovement of the tower on the track.

Preferably the handling mechanism includes at least one pair of platesadapted to move towards and away from each other, then engage or releasefrom either side of the base of a cone.

In a particularly advantageous arrangement the, or each, pair of platesmoves from a first lower to a second upper position relative to thetower.

Preferably, movement of the conveyor platform, and handling mechanism,is hydraulically controlled,

The storage rack ideally includes a roller conveyor which can beinclined towards or away from the conveyor platform to create a gravityfeed from the conveyor platform and the storage rack, or vice versa.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment it will be appreciated thatthe device may be incorporated in a system which may be enclosed in avan or other covered vehicle.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a delivery and retrieval device for road cones comprising:

a) a frame for mounting above a conveyor;b) a first cone pick up device to engage a road cone on the conveyor ata first level and raise the cone to a second level, or to engage a roadcone at said second level and lower the road cone to the first level;c) a second cone pick up device to engage a road cone at said secondlevel whilst supported by the first cone pick up device and raise thecone to a third level, or to engage a road cone at the third level andlower it to said second level, the distance between the second and thirdlevel being substantially the distance between the bases of two stackedcones;any cone being supported at said second level by either said firstand/or second cone pick up device at any one time;in use cones can be retrieved to create a stack of cones at said thirdlevel, by sequentially taking one cone to said third level, andrepeatedly inserting a further cone underneath the previous cone andraising it to the third level; orcones can be delivered to a conveyor from a stack of cones at said thirdlevel, by sequentially lowering a bottom cone in the stack to the firstlevel whilst supporting the remainder of the stack at said third level.

Preferably, in the second embodiment, the first cone pick up devicecomprises: a first pair of reciprocating jaws adapted to engage a firstpair of opposing sides of a substantially square based cone, said firstpair of jaws being supported on a first carriage moveable from the firstto the second level. Preferably the jaws are in the form of opposingL-shaped plates. Said jaws could be adapted to handle any shaped baseother than square.

Preferably the jaws are hydraulically operated. Preferably the carriageis moveable by means of hydraulics.

Preferably, the second cone pick up device comprises a second pair ofreciprocating jaws adapted to engage a second pair of opposing sides ofa substantially square based cone, said second pair of jaws beingsupported on a second carriage moveable from the second to the thirdlevel. Preferably the jaws are in the form of opposing L-shaped plates.Preferably the jaws are hydraulically operated. Preferably the carriageis moveable by means of hydraulics.

Preferably, sensors are provided to sense the presence of a cone on theconveyor when the cone is adjacent the first pick up device. The sensorsmay be proximity sensors, such as infra-red sensors, ultra-sonic sensorsor optical sensors.

Preferably, in the second embodiment, a transfer device is provided totransfer a stack of cones to a storage compartment from the third leveladjacent the second pick up device, or to deliver a stack of cones fromthe storage compartment to the third level adjacent the second pick updevice.

Preferably, in the second embodiment, the device of the invention iscomputer controlled and the rate of delivery and retrieval of cones toand from the conveyor is adjustable.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a delivery and retrieval device for road cones onto and from aroadway comprising:

a) a device body,b) support means to support the device body above the end of a conveyoradjacent a roadway,b) a pair of continuous loops of belts or chains rotatable in opposingdirections on said device body, said loops defining an inclined elongatedelivery channel between a length of each loop, said delivery channelhaving a first end substantially the height of a road cone when on aroadway with said first end above the roadway, and a second end abovesaid first end with said second end being substantially the height of aroad cone above the conveyor, said delivery channel being substantiallythe width of the top end of a road cone to engage the top of a roadcone, in use said device allowing cones travelling down the conveyor tohave the tops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to be delivered toa roadway, or allowing cones to travel up the delivery channel with thetops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to be retrieved onto saidconveyor.

Preferably, in the third embodiment, a pair of guides is providedextending from said delivery channel first end away from the second end,said guides guiding road cones towards the delivery channel as saiddevice is moved along a roadway towards cones.

Preferably, in the third embodiment, the loops are motor driven and eachloop is formed from a loop of chain or belt around cogs or wheels.

Preferably, in the third embodiment, the delivery channel is adapted toengage in an annular recess at the top of a cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference tothe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a device for delivering andretrieving road cones in accordance with a first embodiment of theinvention, the device being mounted on a vehicle X;

FIGS. 2 to 6 show a sequence of movements for delivering and retrievingroad cones in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a device for delivering andretrieving road cones in accordance with a third embodiment of theinvention, the device being mounted at the end of a conveyor;

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatical perspective view of a cone deliverysystem; and

FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatical perspective view of a cone collectionsystem.

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, device 1 has a track 2 for mounting acrossthe rear of a vehicle having pair of rails 2A, 2B on top of a chassis2C.

A rectangular tower 3 is mounted on runners 4A, 4B to slide on the trackrails 2A, 2B. A motor 5 is provided to move the tower 3 on the trackrails 2A, 2B.

A conveyor 6 is provided to deliver road cones from a roadway to thebase of the tower 3 or to deliver road cones from the tower base 3 tothe roadway. When delivering road cones to the base of the tower 3,vehicle “X” reverses. A bar 7 engages the top of a cone “Y” to tilt thecone over so that the base of the cone is angled up to engage theconveyor 6.

A conveyor platform 8 is powered by hydraulic rams 9A, 9B to move from afirst height position “A” at the base of the frame and adjacent one endof the conveyor 6 to a second height position “B” up the frame. Platform8 includes a conveyor belt 8A to transport road cones “on” and “off” theplatform 8.

A handling mechanism 10 is provided to support a stack of road conesabove the platform second position “B” and to deliver or receive roadcones to or from the conveyor platform 8 when at the second position.Handling mechanism 10 includes two pair of plate's 11A, 11B and 12A, 12Badapted to move towards and away from each other (by means of hydraulicrams not shown) to engage or release from the underside of the base of acone. Each pair of plates 11A, 11B and 12A, 12B move up and down from afirst lower to a second upper position relative to the frame (by meansof hydraulic rams not shown). Alternate movement of the pair of plates11A, 11B and 12A, 12B and each engaging with the underside of adjacentcones or pairs of cones at the bottom of a cone stack allows thehandling mechanism to deliver or receive road cones to or from theconveyor platform respectively.

Three cone storage racks 13, 14, 15 adjacent the platform secondposition is provided to receive a stack of cones from the conveyorplatform or deliver a stack of road cones to the conveyor platform. Eachstorage rack includes a roller conveyor 13A, 14A, 15A which can beinclined by hydraulic lift 13B, 14B, 15B (13B, 15B not visible) towardsor away from the conveyor platform 6 in its second position to create agravity feed of stacks of cones from the conveyor platform to thestorage rack or vice versa. The storage racks 13, 14, 15 are accessed bysideways movement of the tower 3 on the track 2.

In use, the device 1 can collect a cone from the roadway-using arm 7 andconveyor 6. The cone is transferred by the conveyor 6 onto the conveyorplatform 8 at the first height position “A”. The platform conveyor 8Acentralises the cone on the platform B. The conveyor platform 8 thenlifts the cone to the second height position “B”. The cone is thenpicked up by the handling mechanism 10 to be stored with other cones tocreate a stack of a maximum predetermined number of cones, e.g. thirtycones. This is repeated until the maximum predetermined number of conesis supported by the handling mechanism 10. The stack of cones is thentransferred by the platform conveyor BA to one of the three storageracks. The storage rack conveyor is inclined away from the conveyorplatform 8 so that the stack of cones slides into the rack.

Alternatively, the stack of cones is transferred from a storage rack tothe conveyor platform 8 by inclining the storage rack conveyor towardsplatform B. The stack is centralised by the platform conveyor 8A. Thestack of cones is then picked up by the handling mechanism 10. Thehandling mechanism 10 delivers single cones to the conveyor platform 8at the second height position “B”. The conveyor platform takes the coneto the first height position “A”, and transfers the cone to the conveyor6 for delivery to a roadway.

The handling mechanism could also handle stacked pairs of cones as wellas single cones. For example it may be desirable to layout on a roadwayalternate single and stacked pairs of cones.

The device of the invention is useful in laying road cones andretrieving road cones on roadways. If it is desired to lay a lane ofroad cones at an angle across a roadway lane, the vehicle can drive downa roadway lane and the tower 3 moved slowly from one side of the track 2to the other as the cones are being laid.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6, there is shown a modified delivery andretrieval device 100 for road cones. The modified delivery and retrievaldevice 100 may be adapted to be mounted at the rear of a vehicle orwithin a smaller vehicle such as a van or a larger van, such as apantechnicon.

Device 100 has a frame 102 formed from four vertical members 103A, 103B,103C, 103D and horizontal metal members 104A, and 104B. Frame 102 ismounted above a conveyor 130.

Frame 102 supports a first cone pick up device 110 to engage a road cone“A” on the conveyor at a first level X and raise the cone to a secondlevel Y. First cone pick up device comprises a first pair ofreciprocating jaws in the form of opposing L-shaped plates 111A, 111Bdriven by hydraulic cylinders 112A, 112B respectively adapted to engagea first pair of opposing sides of a substantially square based cone “A”.Plates 111A, 111B and cylinders 112A, 112B are mounted on firstcarriages 113A, 113B with wheel bearings at the ends thereof which rideup and down the vertical members 103A, 103B and 103C, 103D by means ofhydraulic rams 114A, 114B and 114C, 114D respectively. Plates 111A, 111Bcan thus move from the first level X to the second level Y.

Frame 102 also supports a second cone pick up device 120 to engage aroad cone “A” at the second Y level whilst supported by the first conepick up device 110. Device 120 can then raise the cone “A” to a thirdlevel Z.

Second cone pick up device 120 comprises a second pair of reciprocatingjaws in the form of opposing L-shaped plates 121A, 121B driven byhydraulic cylinders 122A, 122B adapted to engage a second pair ofopposing sides of the substantially square based cone A. Plates 121A,121B and cylinders 122A, 122B are supported on second carriages 123A,123B moveable by means of hydraulic rams 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D (124C,124D not visible). Plates 121A, 121B can thus move from the second level“Y” to the third level “Z”.

The distance between levels “Y” and “Z” is equal to the distance betweenthe bottoms of two stacked cones.

In use, when retrieving road cones from a conveyor, cones “A” travelalong the conveyor 130 as shown in FIG. 2 to a position in betweenplates 111A, 111B as shown in FIG. 3. Sensors (not shown) are providedto sense the presence of a cone on the conveyor when the cone is betweenplates 111A, 111B. Plates 111A, 111B are moved towards each other bycylinders 112A, 112B so they engage opposing sides of square based cone“A” as shown in FIG. 4.

Carriages 113A, 113B are then raised by rams 114A, 114B and 114C, 114Dso that the bottom of a cone “A” is at level “Y” as shown in FIG. 5.

Carriages 122A, 122B are then lowered by rams 123A, 123B, 123C, 123D sothat the plates 121A, 121B are at level “Y”, and the plates 121A, 121Bare then engaged with the underside of the cone “A” at level “Y”, andthat cone is then raised to level “Z”. Carriages 113A, 113B are thenlowered so that plates 111A, 111B are back at the first level “X”. Itwill be appreciated that any cone is supported at said second level byeither said first and/or second cone pick up device at any one time.

Cones can be retrieved to create a stack of cones at said third level,by sequentially taking a cone to the third level “Z”, and repeatedlyinserting a further cone underneath the previous cone and raising it tothe third level “Z”. After a predetermined number of cones have beenstacked, a transfer device (not shown) may be provided to transfer astack of cones to a storage compartment from the third level “Z”. Thetransfer device may be adjacent the second pick up device.

In use, cones can be delivered back to a conveyor by reversing the aboveprocess. The transfer device removes a stack of cones from a storagecompartment to the plates 121A, 121B at the third level “Y”. The plates111A, 111B can be raised to the second level “Y” and the plates 121A,121B moved apart at the third level “Z” so allowing the stack of conesto fall onto plates 111A, 111B. Plates 121A, 121B can then be pushedtowards each other so that the plates 121A, 121B engage the bottom ofthe second to bottom cone. The bottom cone in the stack can then belowered to the first level “X” onto the conveyor 130, and the plates111A, 111B moved apart so releasing a cone onto a conveyor. By repeatingthis process a stack of cones can be transferred to a conveyor.

A third embodiment of the invention will now be described with referenceto FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is shown a conveyor 201 having a conveyor belt202 supported for rotation around end rollers 203A, 203B on a frame 204.Roller 203B may be rotated by a motor 205. Conveyor 201 may be part of avehicle such as that described in the above mentioned prior patent andthe above mentioned embodiments and may be used to take road cones froma vehicle compartment onto a roadway, or vice versa. Belt 202 may thusrotate in either direction. Conveyor 201, in use, is secured to thevehicle as it moves along a roadway and the end of conveyor 201 adjacentroller 203A moves and is supported just above the roadway. In practiceconveyor 201 may be moved along the road towards a line of road cones topick then up, or moved away from a line of road cones laying more conesin a line.

A delivery and retrieval device 210 for road cones onto a roadway isprovided. Device 210 has a device body in the form of a frame 211. Asupport means such as a series of struts (not shown) is provided tosupport the device 210 above the end of the conveyor 201 adjacent aroadway.

A pair of continuous loops of chain 212 and 213 is provided, the loopsbeing rotatable in opposing directions on frame 211. Loop 212 issupported at either end by a pair of cogs 212A, 212B. Loop 213 issupported at either end by a pair of cogs 213A, 213B (213B not visible).Loops 212 and 213 could alternatively be formed from belts aroundwheels. Cogs 213A and 212B are driven by motors 212C, 213C through chainlinkages 212D, 213D.

Loops 212 and 213 define an inclined elongate delivery channel 214.Delivery channel 214 has a first end 214A substantially the height of aroad cone when on a roadway with the first end 214A above the roadway.Channel 214 has a second end 214B above or higher than said first end214A, with the second end 214B being substantially the height of a roadcone above the conveyor. The delivery channel 214 is substantially thewidth of the top end of a road cone to engage the top of a road cone. Inthis respect the delivery channel is adapted to engage in an annularrecess 221 at the top of a cone 220.

A pair of tapered guides 215A, 215B is provided extending from the firstend 214A of the delivery channel away from the second end. Guides 215A,215B guide road cones towards the delivery channel 214 as the device ismoved along a road way towards cones.

In use, the cones travelling down the conveyor 202 have the tops thereofengaged in the second end 214B of the delivery channel and are carrieddown the delivery channel to the first end to be placed on a roadway.Alternatively when retrieving cones, cones are guided by guides 215A,215B to the first end of the delivery channel, and they then travel upthe delivery channel with the tops thereof engaged in the deliverychannel to be retrieved onto the conveyor 202.

It is also envisaged that the device of the invention may be used justto retrieve road cones, and road cones may be delivered to a roadway,e.g. just by a conveyor.

In all of the embodiments described above, it is envisaged that thevehicle may be provided with additional features to enable efficientrunning of the delivery and retrieval devices 1, 101, 201.

For example, a rear view camera & screen mounted in the cab of thevehicle enables to driver of the vehicle to monitor the operation of thecone delivery and retrieval device. Furthermore, a HMI (human interface)screen in drivers cab allows the driver to interact with a computercontrolled version of each of the embodiments of the invention describedabove. A vehicle carrying any of the devices described above may beprovided with an auxiliary engine and fuel tank. Furthermore, thevehicle may be provided with positioning mechanisms in the wheels andstorage compartment to monitor the positioning of the vehicle withrespect to the cones delivering device.

The devices 1, 101, 201 described above may be provided with a series ofinterlocks or sensors to allow for safe operation of the devices 1, 101,201. It will be appreciated that in addition to interlocks, emergencystops may be provided to halt the delivery/retrieval operation in theevent of an emergency. Additionally safety guarding and safety lightingmay be provided on all embodiments of the invention. Guarding on thecone storage compartment may also be provided. It will be appreciatedthat a cone locking bar may be provided to lock the cones in situ whilstthe vehicle is in motion.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the devices 1, 101, 201, mayhandle cones of different sizes and may be provided with means forswitching between cones of different sizes. Moreover, the devices maydeliver and/or retrieve varying sizes of cones in any order or sequence,and be capable of delivering or retrieving doubly stacked cones. Thedevices may also be provided with means for setting the cone deliverydistance to predetermined distances. For example, the cones may bedelivered to the road surface having a cone spacing (the distancebetween two consecutive cones) of 1 m, 1.2 m or 0.5 m, said cone spacingbeing controlled by control means within the device.

The devices 1, 101, 201 may be fitted to vehicles such that the conescan be delivered or retrieved from either side of the vehicle bysuitable dispensing means comprising swivel arms and dispensing arms forextreme sideways positioning. Additionally, the swivel arms and pick uparms may be provided with means to allow the cones to be laid in a“taper” or straight line configuration on either side of the vehicle.The device may also be provided with guide bars in the storagecompartment to assist in cone handling and storage.

The devices of the embodiments described above may be provided with conewashers for cleaning the cones on delivery or retrieval, or both.Furthermore, a mechanism for placing or removing lights on top of thecones may be included. However, lamps may be placed inside the cones,the lamps being battery or solar powered.

Whilst the embodiments described above are designed to be used withcurrent ‘known’ shapes and configurations, modification of the shape ofthe cone to assist use with the devices described above may improveoperation of the devices. For example, modification of the apex or thebase of the cones will assist in handling by the devices.

It will additionally be appreciated that the cone storage compartmentmay be a floating or roller driven storage compartment and drivenrollers may be provided in each bay of flat storage compartment. Thestorage compartment may be operational at a plurality of positions, forexample at the first or second position in the first embodiment of theinvention.

It will be appreciated that the power source for the device may behydraulic, pneumatic, or electric or any variation.

The pick up conveyors of the devices 1, 101 and 201 may be provided withcentralising means, such as cylinders, for locating the cones, as theyare collected. Furthermore, the pick up conveyor may be split.Additionally the pick up conveyor may be provided with lifting motors.The pick up conveyor may also be provided with supports in the form ofgas springs, although it will be appreciated that the support need notbe limited to that of gas springs and any other suitable form of supportmay be used.

A flexible support mechanism, such as an IGUS (Trade Mark) chain may beprovided for transporting electric and hydraulic cables in variouspositions in all of the above mentioned devices.

All of the devices described above may be retro fitted to existingvehicles whilst also being capable of being designed as part of purposebuilt vehicles.

All of the features described above may be implemented by microprocessormeans and computer controlled accordingly.

Other variations to the embodiments described include: the inclusion ofa pick up and/or trip bar. There may also be provided a magazine forreceiving/dispensing and storing cones. Examples of vehicles on whichdevices may be supported are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The inventions may take a form different to the forms specificallydescribed above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

1. A delivery and retrieval device for road cones comprising: a) a trackfor mounting across the rear of a vehicle, b) a tower mounted to slideon the track, c) means to move the tower on the track, d) a conveyor todeliver road cones from a roadway to the base of the tower or to deliverroad cones from the base to the roadway, e) a conveyor platform poweredto move from a first height position at the base of the tower andadjacent one end of the conveyor to a second height position up thetower 3, and f) a handling mechanism to support a stack of road conesabove the platform second position and to deliver or pick up road conesto or from the conveyor platform when at the second position, and g) atleast one cone storage rack adjacent the platform second position toreceive a stack of cones from the conveyor platform or deliver a stackof road cones to the conveyor platform, in use the device collecting acone from the roadway, said cone being transferred by the conveyor ontothe conveyor platform at the first position, the conveyor platformlifting the cone to the second position, the cone then being transferredto the handling mechanism to be stored with other cones to create astack of a predetermined number of cones, and the stack of cones beingtransferred by the conveyor platform to a storage rack; or the stack ofcones being transferred from the storage rack to the conveyor platformand transferred to the handling mechanism, the handling mechanismdelivering single cones to the conveyor platform at the second position,the conveyor platform taking a cone to the first position andtransferring the cone to the conveyor for delivery to a roadway.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the device handles pairs of stackedcones as well as single cones.
 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2,wherein two or more storage racks are provided in side by siderelationship across a vehicle, the storage racks being accessed bymovement of the tower on the track.
 4. A device according to anypreceding claim, wherein the handling mechanism includes at least onepair of plates adapted to move towards and away from each other toengage or release from either side of the base of a cone.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the or each pair of plates moves from afirst lower to a second upper position relative to the tower.
 6. Adevice according to any preceding claim, wherein movement of theconveyor platform and handling mechanism is hydraulically controlled. 7.A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage rackincludes a roller conveyor.
 8. A device according to claim 7, whereinthe roller conveyor can be inclined towards or away from the conveyorplatform to create a gravity feed from the conveyor platform and thestorage rack or vice versa.
 9. A device according to any precedingclaim, wherein the tower is adapted to be moved on the track as conesare being laid by the conveyor to lay a lane of road cones at an angleacross a roadway lane, and/or the tower is adapted to be moved on thetrack as cones are being retrieved by the conveyor to retrieve a lane ofroad cones at an angle across a roadway lane.
 10. A delivery andretrieval device for road cones comprising: a) A frame for mountingabove a conveyor, b) a first cone pick up device to engage a road coneon the conveyor at a first level and raise the cone to a second level,or to engage a road cone at said second level and lower the road cone tothe first level, c) a second cone pick up device to engage a road coneat said second level whilst supported by the first cone pick up deviceand raise the cone to a third level, or to engage a road cone at thethird level and lower it to said second level, the distance between thesecond and third level being substantially the distance between thebases of two stacked cones, any cone being supported at said secondlevel by either said first and/or second cone pick up device at any onetime, in use cones can be retrieved to create a stack of cones at saidthird level, by sequentially taking one cone to said third level, andrepeatedly inserting a further cone underneath the previous cone andraising it to the third level, or cones can be delivered to a conveyorfrom a stack of cones at said third level, by sequentially lowering abottom cone in the stack to the first level whilst supporting theremainder of the stack at said third level.
 11. A delivery and retrievaldevice for road cones according to claim 10, wherein the first cone pickup device comprises a first pair of reciprocating jaws adapted to engagea first pair of opposing sides of a substantially square based cone orother shape, said first pair of jaws being supported on a first carriagemoveable from the first to the second level.
 12. A delivery andretrieval device for road cones according to claim 11, wherein the firstpair of jaws are in the form of opposing L-shaped plates.
 13. A deliveryand retrieval device for road cones according to claim 11 or 12, whereinthe jaws are hydraulically operated.
 14. A delivery and retrieval devicefor road cones according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the firstcarriage is moveable by means of hydraulics.
 15. A delivery andretrieval device for road cones according to any one of claims 10 to 14,wherein the second cone pick up device comprises a second pair ofreciprocating jaws adapted to engage a second pair of opposing sides ofa substantially square based cone, said second pair of jaws beingsupported on a second carriage moveable from the second to the thirdlevel.
 16. A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according toclaim 15, wherein second pair of jaws are in the form of opposingL-shaped plates.
 17. A delivery and retrieval device for road conesaccording to claim 15 or 16, wherein the jaws are hydraulicallyoperated.
 18. A delivery and retrieval device for road cones accordingto claim 15, 16 or 17 wherein the second carriage is moveable by meansof hydraulics.
 19. A delivery and retrieval device for road conesaccording to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein sensors are provided tosense the presence of a cone on the conveyor when the cone is adjacentthe first pick up device.
 20. A delivery and retrieval device for roadcones according to any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein a transfer deviceis provided to transfer a stack of cones to a storage compartment fromthe third level adjacent the second pick up device, or to deliver astack of cones from the storage compartment to the third level adjacentthe second pick up device.
 21. A delivery and retrieval device for roadcones onto and from a roadway comprising: a) a device body, b) supportmeans to support the device body above the end of a conveyor adjacent aroadway, c) a pair of continuous loops of belts or chains rotatable inopposing directions on said device body, said loops defining an inclinedelongate delivery channel between a length of each loop, said deliverychannel having a first end substantially the height of a road cone whenon a roadway with said first end above the roadway, and a second endabove said first end with said second end being substantially the heightof a road cone above the conveyor, said delivery channel beingsubstantially the width of the top end of a road cone to engage the topof a road cone, in use said device allowing cones travelling down theconveyor to have the tops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to bedelivered to a roadway, or allowing cones to travel up the deliverychannel with the tops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to beretrieved onto said conveyor.
 22. A delivery and retrieval device forroad cones according to claim 21, wherein a pair of guides are providedextending from said delivery channel first end away from the second end,said guides guiding road cones towards the delivery channel as saiddevice is moved along a roadway towards cones.
 23. A delivery andretrieval device for road cones according to claim 21 or 22, wherein theloops are motor driven.
 24. A delivery and retrieval device for roadcones according to any one of claims 21, 22 or 23, wherein each loop isformed from a loop of chain or belt around cogs or wheels.
 25. Adelivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one ofclaims 21 to 24, wherein the delivery channel is adapted to engage in anannular recess at the top of a cone.
 26. A delivery and retrieval devicefor road cones according to any preceding claim, wherein the device iscomputer controlled.
 27. A delivery and retrieval device for road conesaccording to any preceding claim, wherein the rate of delivery andretrieval of cones to and from the conveyor is adjustable.
 28. A devicefor delivering and retrieving road cones as herein before described withreference to FIG. 1 or FIGS. 2 to 6 or FIG. 7 of the accompanyingdrawings.
 29. A system including the device of any preceding claim whenmounted on or in a vehicle.